The Epsteins of the world would have us be Englishmen: naïve, civically minded, conformist, trusting, decent, reticent to rock the boat. Let us defy him. Let us be Irishmen: wary, uncouth, defiant — like the men of Soloheadbeg.

In many ways, there was no better symbol than the Monto of the matrix of British control and exploitation.